Inc. Magazineis one of my favorite “pick up and reads” when I have a little down time. I always seem to walk away with a few nuggets that I can tuck in to my own leader’s locker.

And then as I go through varying experiences, I’m able to pull those nuggets right back out of the locker and use them.

In the last 48 hours, I’ve had four different development discussions with mentees and colleagues, each of which centered around awareness of what was happening above and below them. Meaning – situations that involved their boss, their employees, or both.

Often in these discussions, a number of questions surface – like “Why doesn’t my boss understand me?”, “Why am I being micromanaged?” or “Why won’t my folks listen?” and “Why can’t they just get it done right?”

To get to their answers, some times all you have to do is sit and listen and they work it out themselves. Some times they need a little prompting or encouragement. And some times (albeit few) they need to be told that they are causing the problem.

Regardless, the solutions usually revolve around them being more aware of the people they follow and the people they lead. Where you sit on the bus offers you a different perspective as compared to where someone else sits. Taking the time to understand where they are coming from or their perspectives often cures a lot of ills and misconceptions.

As I searched, I came across another Inc. Magazine article written by Haden a couple days ago that was trending in social media called 10 Things Bosses Never Tell Employees. As I read it, I was like, “This one’s true. Yep that one too. True. True. Oh, that’s just funny – but true.” Haden is a genius! In two brief articles, he provided the answers to many of the questions that were asked during my discussions – as well as many more.

So, my suggestion for you is to check out the two links above to the 17 truths inside Haden’s articles and get a good perspective of what’s going on above you and below you. Then use your new found knowledge to improve your understanding of your own work environment. You’ll also find that in your own role today as both boss and employee that you probably have these very same thoughts yourself.

What are some other things that a boss or employee will never tell you? (but should)

Like this:

Day after day, I talk to lots of folks who are looking to improve any number of work place issues. Whether its resolving a dispute, gaining performance out of others, understanding what people are thinking, or simply building relationships, people are looking for the good ‘how to’ answers.

While there are no silver bullets, I do believe that there is one simple way to solve the above issues (and more).

Simply, get out of your seat. Go ask. Go listen. Go talk. Go engage!

It’s amazing what a little direct interaction can do to solve your ills. Back in the day, we didn’t have email, instant messenger, text, or other digital mediums to communicate through (or hide behind). We actually had to talk face to face with each other.

While that may sound archaic, it’s extremely effective. And those that do it well reap successful rewards.

So what can ‘getting out of your seat’ do for you? Check out these three benefits.

Improve your health. Really! Instead of sitting and typing an email, get up and go talk! I was recently reading an article by Michael Hyatt that highlighted the dangers of sitting in your seat for prolonged periods. There was an infographic that stated that sitting 6+ hours per day increases your likelihood of death by 40% as compared to others that sit far less. That’s a pretty compelling reason in and of itself to NOT rest on your laurels all day. Make sure to read through the infographic – it’s pretty interesting!

Solve issues faster. More than once today, I talked with colleagues and was asked, “How should I deal with this person?” My response each time? Go talk with them. Stop speculating, trying to interpret emails, and/or listening to the scuttlebutt dished by other people. Take the initiative, be proactive, and go get face to face with the source. If approached correctly, you will get to the root issue much faster and gain resolution much faster.

Expand your influence. One of my favorite leadership tenets at my company is that of Coaching By Walking Around (CBWA). This is an intentional activity where the leader engages with the troops where they are. But more important than coaching, is listening. A leader will learn far more about what is going on in the business, how employees feel, and what’s concerning them by getting out from behind the desk and asking. The added benefits of this critical exercise, if done sincerely, are that you become more approachable, more appreciated, and more influential – which makes your coaching (when necessary) more readily accepted.

As with all things, you have to use common sense and know when to communicate in the right manner. Learn to use your tools appropriately. But when it comes to those issues listed in the first paragraph – get up and go!

As I watch the great leaders around me, I notice one thing that they have in common. They listen.

Rarely are they the first to talk. They listen, contemplate, and then ask questions.

And then, when they are ready to make a statement, those around them almost lean forward in anticipation of what is about to be said because they know that it will be important.

But why?

Because the leader’s words were built upon a foundation of first listening to others.

So, how do you become a better listener?

The first method of course is to simply close your own mouth, which many of us often find to be a challenge. I’m the first to admit that I sometimes struggle in this area. However, when I get it right, it’s amazing what happens. I find myself listening more intently to those around me and understanding much more than I did before.

The path to improved listening, however, is more of a journey than a sudden magnificent change. There are many methods, but each of them takes focus, practice, and conscious repetitious effort.

This weekend, I stumbled across a TED video by Julian Treasure that talks about 5 Ways to Listen Better. So, I thought that I would share with you here to put more tools into your leader’s locker.

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So, what’d you think? Pretty interesting!

Personally, I found the fifth exercise to be the best. However, all are great tools to enhance your ability to listen to the environment around you. And hopefully to not only enhance your ability to listen, but your enjoyment of it as well.

What exercises, tools, or tips have you found to help improve your listening skill?